Building block



Patented May 17, 1927.

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I tfizazia wrnnra yr E. LnM nY, "or tarpon, wnsnrneyron- BUILDING BLQCK.

Application filed ma 5,

This invention relates to masonry structures such as arches, sewers, water conduits, and the like.

".Themain object oftheinvention is the improvement in a water-tight wall structure of this character where permanency, and strength to withstand strains and stresses are of primary importance.

Another object is the provision of an improved form of building blocks which may be readily laid in interlocking relations in i/portion of a wall structure embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is an underside plan view of parts shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on line 3-8 of Fig. 2: and Fig. 4: is a perspective view of one of the wall blocks.

According to the present invention, a wall is composed of a plurality of blocks 5, preferably brick or tile; for a wall of an arcuate transverse shape, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the blocks 5 are correspondingly formed to provide inner and outer transversely curved sur? faces. 7

Along one of its side edges a block is formed with a groove 6, shown herein as a reentrant angle, and along its other side edge with a correspondingly shaped ridge or projection 7 to provide interlocking joints between adjacent rows of blocks.

The ends of the blocks are also formed to provide interfitting conections, as shown a block at one end being provided at its outer side with a' tongue 8 which protrudes beyond a shoulder 9 located at its inner side; the other end of the block being complementary thereto by the provision of a tongue 10 at its inner side which extends beyond a shoulder 11 located at the outer side of the block.

By such tongue-and-recess devices, the blocks are afforded overlapping end connections, one with another in each longitudinal row of blocks, as represented in Fig. 2.

To enable the blocks to be laid with their outer surfaces 12 and inner surfaces 13 flush 1925. Serial No, 28.94 5,

w ith therespective wall surfaces, and. for the, purpose ofyafiordmg spaceforv mortar or other cementatory mater al. between theassociatedtongues, eachiofthe latter fis made of less thickness than the respective shoulders.

To reduce the weight of ablock, the same is desirably molded or otherwise formed to provide therein longitudinally disposed airspaces or channels 14 extending between the shoulder at one end of the block and the extremity of the tongue at its other end. The block is also advantageously provided with one or more air-spaces 15, and has apertures 16 extending longitudinally of the block between its shoulders 9 and 11 and preferably in proximity of the respective tongues.

In assembling, the blocks are arranged substantialiy as represented in Figs. 1 and 2 with plastic cement at the joints.

Reinforcement in the nature of tie-rods 17 are employed to extend through the aligned apertures 16 of two successive blocks, the projecting ends of the rods being bent to provide laterally directed hooks 18 to hear against the respective block-shoulders and with bill elements 19 extending, preferably, into the adjacent spaces 15.

The tie-rods thus arranged have their bent ends embedded in the mortar at'the respective joints between associated tongues 8 and 10 to provide effective coupling means.

The tie-rods are furthermore disposed in a manner to couple each block with the block I in front and to the rear thereof and thus cooperate to afford, in effect, a continuous reinforcement for the entire length of each longitudinal course of blocks.

What I claim, is,

1. In a wall for a sewer or the like, the combination with a plurality of building blocks arranged in longitudinal rows and constructed with overlapped ends rabbeted to aiford recesses between the overlapped ends of adjacent blocks in each row, of 190 a plurality of independent tie-rods arranged in spaced apart relation both longitudinally and transversely of the wall in each row of blocks, each tie-rod extending through a pair of adjacent blocks of the same row and a filling material provided within said recesses for retaining the tie-rods, said tie-rods being arranged in stag gered positions so that one tie-rod couples each block with the block in front and 2. A wall for a sewer or the like COIUPI'lS- scribed, a plurality of blocks arranged in ing longitudinallydisposed rows of spaced rows and having inter-engaging ends and apart blocks, a filling material for the spacesside edges, a tie-rod independently connectintermediate the blocks, and independent tie-- ing each block with the next adj acent block rods ext-ending through and formed of apat one end thereof, and a further tie-rod inproximately the length of two blocks, the dependently connecting the same block With ends of said rods being bent and embedded in the next adjacent block at the other end said lilling for retaining the tie-rods, said 'thereof, each tic-rod being extended through tie-rods being arranged in staggered posi! and having its ends anchored at the outer tions adjacent opposite sides of the blocks 1 ends of a pair of adjacent blocks. to cooperatively provide reinforcement the Signed at Seattle, lVa'shington, this 13th entire length of the Wall. day of April, 1925. I

3; In a Wall section of the character de- ILLIAM E. LEMLEY. 

